Two Mamaronecks, Two Building Departments
"Mamaroneck" is two different governments. The Village of Mamaroneck is an incorporated village that lies partly in the Town of Mamaroneck and partly in the Town of Rye. The Town of Mamaroneck also has an unincorporated area that is in neither village, with its own building department.
That means there are two building departments, and the one that handles your project depends on your address. The Village of Mamaroneck Building Department is at 169 Mount Pleasant Avenue, (914) 777-7731. The Town of Mamaroneck building department, for the unincorporated area only, is at 740 West Boston Post Road, (914) 381-7830. Those are the municipalities' numbers, not ours — our number is (914) 474-1951. Either office can say which one your address falls under, and we pull the permits through whichever one applies.
Flooding Is Part of Remodeling Here
In the Village, flooding is part of every serious remodeling decision. The Village's 2023 comprehensive plan records that Hurricane Ida devastated the Village in 2021 and that many homes, businesses and cars were destroyed. The Village takes part in FEMA's Community Rating System, and it requires a floodplain development permit for any development in a special flood hazard area.
The rule that matters most is the substantial improvement rule. "Substantial improvement" means any reconstruction, rehabilitation, addition or other improvement whose cost equals or exceeds 50% of the market value of the structure before the work starts. In the mapped flood zones, a substantial improvement must have its lowest floor, including the basement, elevated to or above two feet above the base flood level.
What that means in plain terms: a large remodel or addition on a house in the flood zone can cross the 50% line, and when it does, the house is treated like new construction for flood purposes — including the two-foot elevation rule. That is not a detail you want to discover after the design is done. The time to find out is before design, by asking the Building Department whether the property is in the special flood hazard area. We cover the flood rules in detail on our Westchester remodeling permits page.
Architectural Review in the Village
The Village has a Board of Architectural Review. Under the Village code, building permit applications for construction or reconstruction with an estimated cost of more than $40,000 are referred to it.
Our own projects start at $40,000, so in the Village this review is a normal part of what we do, not an exception. We handle it as part of pulling the permit. It is not a reason to avoid the project — it is a step in it, and we know the step.
House Size and Trees
The Village limits house size in its single- and two-family zones by floor area ratio and publishes a calculator. Garages count toward the floor area. As in Larchmont, the question of how much house the lot will allow comes before the question of what the addition looks like.
In the Village, removing a tree eight inches or more in diameter on private property needs a permit from the Building Inspector. The unincorporated Town has its own tree permit rule. If an addition calls for taking down a tree, the permit is part of the work, and we raise it at the estimate.
Where We Work in Mamaroneck
We work in the areas of the Village — Orienta, Shore Acres, Harbor Heights, Heathcote Hill and Rye Neck — and in the unincorporated Town.
What We Do
We do four things, all residential: kitchen remodeling, bathroom remodeling, home additions, and home remodeling. Our projects start at $40,000, and we do not do handyman work or small repairs.
Anthony Quattrone has more than 40 years of experience and is on the job himself. We are licensed in Westchester County — license number WC-33098-H20 — and we pull the permits through whichever building department your address falls under. The estimates are free. Call us or request a free estimate.
Where We Work
We work in Westchester County, New York, and only there. Mamaroneck is one of the towns we serve.
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Is my house in the Village of Mamaroneck or the Town?
What is the 50% rule for homes in the flood zone?
How do I find out if my house is in a flood zone?
Does a remodel in the Village go to the Board of Architectural Review?
Do I need a permit to take down a tree for an addition?
Are you licensed to work in Mamaroneck?
Nearby towns we work in: Larchmont, Rye, Port Chester.
Free Estimate
Request a Free Estimate
Call Anthony directly, or send the details below. We come to the house and give you a free estimate.
(914) 474-1951Monday–Friday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM